Water powered smelt sites

From the “First Definitive List of Cumbrian Sites of Iron Mines and Smelt Sites, January 1997” by Mike Davies-Shiel in The Cumbrian Industrialist, Volume 1, 1998

Sites are graded on a 1-5 scale, where 5 would mean that it is barely recognisable.
1* indicates a site of national importance. Dem indicates that a site has been demolished.

Stringhearths are defined here as those early water-powered sites that used wheels to drive the bellows only, to increase hearth temperatures.

Bloomsmithies – the next evolution – used waterpower for both the smelting of the ores and to power the tilt hammer. By practice they found they had to use two waterwheels, one over- and one under-shot respectively, for the two functions.
Most bloomsmithies’ owners also ventured into the manufacture of smallwares, tools, wire, etc – as bloomforges – but it is very hard to prove which sites did this in the field.

N.B.The list does not include bloomsmithies and bloomforges which were converted to finery/chafery forges in the blast furnace era (after 1711).

Stringhearths

Location

Grade

Notes

Blackmoss Pot

NY26751155

2

Bldg + race on E bank of beck

Stake Pass Foot

NY26350980

4

Flood wrecked

Gaterigghow

NY10900403

2

Small mill pond to E of large mound

Irton Hall

NY10520090

Dem

Demolished by farmer 1992, much ore

Beck Leven

SD31029526

1*

1331-1537. Ore dropped on shore

Hob Gill

SD32609158

2

Forestry Comm. re-used, and very old dam

Low Dale Park

SD35009160

2

Pre 1608 used lime fluxes

Beck Side Colton

SD31478591

2

Saved supports, farm building, 1606

Little Mill

SD31778478

2

Skowbarrow

SD34558857

1

Working c.1530AD

Burn Knotts

SD33008650

4

Small dam due north

Harebridge Ho

SD3785814-

4

Leats ex 2 becks. Glassy slag

Bloomsmithies

Type

Location

Grade

Dates

Notes

Brougham, Penrith

Bloomsmithy

NY53669291

4

1619-1649

see CW2, 1991

Blencarn, Penrith

Bloomsmithy

NY65593132

1*

1667-?

Stubs Gill, Distington

Bloomsmithy

NY01822292

3

17thC

used coal/coke fuel

Brigham, Keswick

Bloomsmithy

NY28622413

4

1624-1724+

Cleator no.1

Bloomsmithy

NY01501315

4

-1670-1688+

Smithymire, Borrowdale

Bloomsmithy

NY27381303

4

?-1760+

14thC Furness Abbey site

Holme Forge, Beckermet

Bloomsmithy

NY01850643

2

?

Muncaster Forge

Bloomsmithy

SD14279892

4

1636-1720

end date by pottery

Fell Foot

Bloomsmithy

NY29700313

4

-1624-1750?

Woodland, Torver

Bloomsmithy

SD24809084

3

-1592-1752

Scherwinge family

Holly Forge, Rusland

Bloomsmithy

SD33739080

4

1617-?

Cunsey no.2

Bloomsmithy

SD37739356

4

-1623-1715

Graythwaite Old Hall

Bloomsmithy

not yet found

1543-?

Robert Blumer in 1543

Natland Forge, Kendal

Bloomforge

SD51909082

3

-1750-1787

THE John Wilkinson here

Smithy Beck, Lowick

Bloomsmithy

not yet found

c1770

A Russell site

Beckfoot, Duddon

Bloomsmithy

SD19348988

4

?

Thorphinsty, Winster

Bloomsmithy

SD41558582

4

?

Ulpha Forge

Bloomsmithy

SD19599174

4

1625-1688+

Mr.Hudleston’s forge

Backbarrow Forge

Bloomforge

SD35608472

4

-1606-1711

?rebuilt 1685

Sedgwick/Levens Forge

Bloomforge

SD50608649

4

1723-1816+

Bar from Norway, Spain

Parkside, Millom

Bloomsmithy

SD17008256

Dem

-1668-19thC

see CW2 26 142

Penny Br Low Smithy

Bloomsmithy

SD30828376

3

1671-?

Coniston Forge

Bloomsmithy

see CW2 lxxxix 187-206

Sparkbridge Forge

Bloomsmithy

SD30508496

Dem

-1710-1788

rebuilt 1798 as bloomforge

Stott Park Smithy

Bloomsmithy

SD37258831

4

1567-1722

Witherslack

Bloomsmithy

cSD3486

?1628-1641+

Lindale Forge

Bloomsmithy

cSD4180

1629-1719

Canny family

Milnthorpe Forge

Bloomsmithy

SD49658118

4

c1620-1683

paper mill

Dalton Forge, Furness

Bloomforge

SD225738

Dem

-1676-1776

then foundry – 19thC

Keerholme Forge

Bloomsmithy

SD56027436

4

1685-1798

Par. Reg. confirms end.In Lancs by 5ft

The locations of Ulpha Forge and Lindale Forge were revised in December 2014